Binioù kozh (bagpipe)

The binioù khoz is a Breton bagpipe. Its name, binioù khoz, means ‘old bagpipe’, differentiating them from the later Great Highland Pipes, which were introduced in Brittany in the early 20th century. The latter were named binioù nevez (new bagpipe), and then binioù braz (large bagpipe). The binioù khoz is sometimes referred to as binioù bihan (small bagpipe) due to its small size (Le Gonidec 2013:97). One of the particularities of this instrument is the fact that it plays one octave above the bombarde, a Breton shawm that it the binioù khoz is traditionally paired with. This duet is called a ‘couple de sonneurs’, or just ‘sonneurs’.


The binioù has a long history in Brittany, but it is in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century that the practice becomes ubiquitous and starts appearing regularly in local iconography (Le Troadec 2013:10). From then on, the sonneurs are well-known figures called upon to play at all sorts of celebrations, events, and dances. The practice declined in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century, due to the rise of other popular instruments such as the clarinet or the accordion (Le Gonidec 2013:96) followed by the First World War. However, the duo was maintained by a few players alongside the successful adoption of the binioù braz, which was popularized from the 1930s onwards (ibid.). While the binioù braz was incorporated into large bands (bagads), with bombardes and drums, the binioù khoz retained its duet format and is still used as a traditional form of music for dancing. It regained popularity later in the twentieth century, once the bagads had become well established.


This instrument was acquired in October 1901. It features a tanned leather bag, a drone and a small melodic pipe (155mm). This melodic pipe would have sounded an octave above the bombarde, and an octave above most double-reed pipes played in Europe at the time, such as the Galician gaita or the Great Highland Pipes. One can observe serrated knife cuts at the base of the melodic pipe’s stock. These seem to be marks made by the person who fitted the bag, produced when cutting the superfluous leather into a serrated pattern.


(Cassandre Balosso-Bardin, 2023)


Technical Description

Conical single chanter of dark wood 155 mm, 7/0 holes, 2 vent holes, remains of thin cane reed (osier?) in tenon (typically osier double reed on metal staple);

1 drone in 3 sections 395 mm, flared bell with ovoid cavity, tuning slides, single downcut cane reed of elder;

cylindrical blowpipe 128 mm, with leather flapper valve hemped onto tenon;

dressed tan leather bag without cover;

3 cylindrical dark wooden stocks with rounded exterior profiles mounted with compositions material;

all pipes and stocks with grooved decoration, chanter stock with crosshatching done by hand.

References

Le Gonidec, Marie-Barbara, 2013. ‘Du civil au militaire, du couple à la clique: l’exemple du bagad de Lann-Bihoué’.　Actes des congrès nationaux des sociétés historiques et scientifiques,　136(4), pp.93-119.


Le Troadec, Ifig, 2013. ‘Inventaire des pratiques vivantes liées aux expressions du patrimoine oral musical de Bretagne. Pratiques instrumentales. Pratiques de couple de sonneurs. Biniou – Bombarde’. Fiche type d’inventaire du patrimoine culturel immatériel de la France. Ministère de la Culture.